Peanuts make for a fun and unusual crop to grow in your garden. And, they’re not a type of organic produce you’re likely to find anywhere else, since there’s so little organic peanut farming going on. Red-skinned varieties respond especially well to organic gardening initiatives, and their flavor is described as “full-bodied.”
7 Peanut Growing Tips
Want to try growing organic peanuts? Here are seven great tips, resources and a video to get you started:
1. Peanuts like Sandy Soil
Keep in mind that your success may hinge on the soil you grow them in: peanuts do best in sandy soils. If your soil isn’t sandy enough, container gardening will work fine, as long as the containers are sufficiently deep. Realize that you probably won’t get a huge crop, and of course you’ll have to roast them once they’re harvested, but that’s easy.
If you want a larger crop than container gardening, just add plenty of organic matter if soil is not sandy to help with drainage.
2. Add Soil Nutrients
Peanuts are heavy feeders. Add Phosphorous and Calcium to the soil. Peanuts are legumes, so they don’t need much nitrogen. Bone meal works well as a natural fertilizer.
3. Give Peanut Plants Space
Thin peanut seedlings. They do take up a lot of space in the garden. Since they are heavy feeders, keep their space in mind.
4. Cover with Soil Around Base
Keep soil mounded around bottom of plants since the pegs/shoots will grow down to soil.
5. Harvesting Peanuts
September to October plants turn yellow and peanuts are ready to harvest. Depending on variety, they mature in 90 – 125 days.
6. Watering Peanuts
Peanuts like moisture. Be sure to water or irrigate if you live in a dry weather climate.
7. Protect Peanuts from Squirrels
Squirrels love peanuts. You may need to protect the nut in the soil prior to sprouting with a floating row cover. Uncover when seedlings are a few inches tall.
Want more details on the tips above? Check out this video:
Interested in more gardening tips on how to grow and plant peanuts?
Here are great resources for more information on peanut varieties and when to plant peanuts from extension centers:
Vegetable Crops: Peanut from Clemson Cooperative Extension
Home Gardening Series: Peanuts PDF from University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
Peanuts – Grow Nuts In The Garden Next Year from Utah State University Extension
How are the treated during and following harvest?